Upon reaching the town Eleusis in Greece (the location of the Eleusinian Mysteries) there was an night vigil… At some point during the night the initiates-to-be would drink a special drink called: Kykeon.
Having previously completed the lesser Eleusinian Mysteries, held in the spring, the participant had to wait until the following autumn to participate in the Greater Mysteries. Then, there were five days of purification rituals: bathing, fasting and sacred offerings… Before the initiates entered the vast and dimly lit temple called the ‘Telesterion’.Â
A gradual physiological and psychological shift brought on by the five days of preparation, expectation, the number of people and the (hypothesized) entheogenic properties of the drink they just consumed created the conditions.Â
The atmosphere within this sacred space would be one of excitement, anticipation, maybe even trepidation. Designed to house thousands of people, some estimates say up to 5000 people. This was the setting… The sacred rites of the Eleusinian Mysteries would then unfold.
“Happy is he among men upon earth who has seen these mysteries.” Homer, Homeric Hymn to Demeter.
In Three Parts: It Began with the Dromena, or Things Done
Starting with a dramatic ritual re-enactment of the Demeter-Persephone myth*. Shadows, flickering torchlight, the appearance of ritualistic figures… In this altered state, the initiate’s perception would be heightened. They would experience a deep sense of participatory engagement, creating real emotional responses. This was a fully sensory rich experience. The theme: death, rebirth and the cyclical nature of existence.
*The Demeter-Persephone Myth. Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, mourned deeply when her daughter Persephone was abducted by the ruler of the ‘Underworld’ Hades. Demeter’s grief created a desolate earth causing widespread famine. To appease her, Zeus stepped in, negotiating a compromise. Persephone would spend part of the year with Hades and the other part with her mother. When Persephone is in the Underworld, Demeter’s sadness brings autumn and winter… And upon her return, Demeter’s joy brings in spring and summer.                                     Â
The Legomena, or Things Said
The high priest or ‘Hierophant’ would speak… Giving explanation, reciting sacred formulae, magical incantations, strange vocal utterances, and ancient chants… Even screams could be heard resonating through the inner temple.Â
This experience was powerful. The sights witnessed and the sounds heard would penetrate the initiate’s consciousness. In this altered state (just like in hypnosis), these words would bypass the conscious critical thinking… The intellectual processes… and go deep inside the mind.
This was aimed at creating emotional responses and revealing new layers of understanding and comprehension about existence itself… The intention was ‘transmission of esoteric wisdom’ with profound spiritual effects.Â
“Not a lesson to learn, but an experience to undergo” Aristotle
The Deiknymena or Things Shown
Sacred objects with symbolic significance would ‘be seen’…. The effects produced by the kykeon would create an experience profoundly felt throughout the initiate’s being. The initiate would experience ‘Ultimate Illumination’ (epopteia)… Giving them a profound sense of peace and deep understanding that altered their perception of both life and death.
“Those who participate have sweeter hopes concerning the end of life and all eternity.” Isocrates, 4th Century BCE Greek Orator
Eleusinian Mysteries: What Happened in There?
The Eleusinian Mysteries lasted for well over 1000 years… and there were many reports of people in complete shock. Many spoke about the experience that transformed them and removed their fears of death. But the initiates were forbidden from disclosing the ‘secrets’ of what really happened under the penalty of death.
For the initiate the whole experience was a thing that started before even the Lesser Mysteries. It started with the decision to partake.
The conditions for participating were that you were either Greek, or a person who spoke Greek, and you had not committed the sin of murder. This meant that the Eleusinian Mysteries were open to the very rich and poor… Emperors of Rome, as well as slaves, men, women, almost all could attend.
After making the decision, the excitement would start to build… How could it not. After all you’d heard about this experience, you’d met people who had changed after it. This was something that would take at least 18 months of build up to completion.
After Deciding to Take Part
First you would experience the ‘Lesser Mysteries’ a year and a half before you could receive the ‘Greater Mysteries’. When the time came, it started with days of purification rituals… The fasting aspect helping to induce the altered states and allowing the Kykeon to impact the system in a stronger way.
Next was a 14 mile torchlit procession called ‘The Sacred Way’ with many stops along the way to build more anticipation. Each initiate was accompanied by an experienced adept, one who would guide them through the various stages. They wouldn’t reveal secrets but instead prepare them for what was to come.
Then they partook in the sacred drink and entered into the darkness… Flickering lights, sounds, smells, imagery, the appearance of religious figures and divine miracles. Once inside the Telesterion the experience was very likely designed to start with a shock! An experience that created disorientation, unease, fear… All paralleling Demeter’s grief and Persephone’s descent into the Underworld. Â
Eleusinian Mysteries: What did they experience in Altered States?
The experience resolved with a sudden and dramatic revelation of light. Shifting the energy from darkness to light. This was way more than a religious ceremony, this was a life transforming powerful journey, confronting humanity’s deepest fear: death. Replacing the fear with an inner knowing of what lies beyond.
“Blessed is he who, having seen these things, goes beneath the earth: he knows the end of life and he knows its god-given beginning.” Pindar, 5th Century BCE Poet.
“The ultimate design of the Mysteries was to lead us back to the principles from which we descended, a perfect enjoyment of intellectual [spiritual] good.”
Plato
This was one hell of a trip!
One taken by: Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Roman Emperors Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, Julius Cesar… and more.
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